Canyon Extraction Robot

Rescuers have responded to a GPS distress signal coming from Waimea Canyon on Kauai.  A group of hikers have gotten lost and one of their members has suffered a sprained ankle.    The survivors have only a basic shelter, nutrition for at most one day, basic first aid, and no way of filtering water.

Kauai Country Fire Department has responded, but it may take several days for rescuers to make it to the group. Helicopters cannot be deployed due to High Wind Warnings over the next five days. The KFD is concerned about the location of the weak GPS signal because it is in an area known for its shear cliffs and dangerous river crossings.

Rescuers, however, know of a  cable-crossing which leads to an old hunting shelter . Their hopes are to locate the group from the trail the hikers had told family and friends they were using. Unfortunately, due to the extreme exposure on each side of the canyon; rescuers are hesitant to rappel the canyon, as the ascent would be next to impossible.

Thus, KFD has sent out emergency notices to all manufacturers of Search and Rescue equipment for any devices they may have that could aid in the rescue of trapped and injured hiker. In the emergency notice, rescuers have noted that the canyon is approximately 500 feet deep and 100 feet wide where the cable-crossing is located.

Your company has been working a "skunkworks" project of a similar nature over the past few years. The scale model you have designed can traverse similar crossings and lower rescue material to simialr depths. You call in all your resources for this task and hope to make your product available to aid the stranded hiker as soon as possible. Prior to use, Search and Rescue wants to see technical drawings and a quick test of your device.

Later, if tested and proven successful in real-world applications, this event can be used during the sales and marketing of your device.